No football in lockdown

‘People say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.’  My dear love for Manchester United Football Club can be applied to this saying.  You see, coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown was the very first time in my forty-three-year-old life, that football had ceased to exist.

I felt utterly bewildered at times with no football.  It felt like an important part of me was missing.  This is going to be a blog where I celebrate its return and discuss just how intrinsic it is to my very existence.

Benefits of exercise on my mental health

In a recent blog of mine entitled ‘Contamination OCD in lockdown’ , I detail how important exercise has been to me as a coping strategy during lockdown.  Many of us use exercise to help us de-stress from the stresses of daily life.  Indeed, in an article by Sport England, they even describe exercise as a ‘wonder drug’ in preventing and managing mental health.

Benefits of watching sport exist

What about the benefits from following sport though, notably football?  Every weekend in the season I plan my weekend around following Man United on the radio or telly.  Two weeks into lockdown without any football and I noticed just how much I was desperately missing it.  It was therefore no surprise to me when I read being an avid sports fan is also great for your mental health.  Studies out there have proven it makes people happier.

My Man United love affair

I first started following United in the early 1980s.  Even though my late dad supported Manchester City in blue, in the United red corner were my Godfather and his son Jonathan.  Being a United fan now is as natural to me as say my name and my date-of-birth are.  Ultimately, my Man United fandom is a big part of my identity.

Me in 1985 after Man United had won the FA Cup. I’m wearing a Norman Whiteside ‘Rambo’ T-Shirt.

Growing up, I was always seen wearing the latest Man United strip.

Sports fandom

The writer Brianna Wiest, states how important sports fandom is in especially difficult times.  Following my beloved Red Devils (United’s nickname), I now realise it gives me a strong sense of belonging which thus brings me comfort.  Indeed, research shows that a weak sense of belonging is linked with depression.  Therefore, I guess you could argue that I was starting to suffer in lockdown because this sense of belonging feeling, was starting to get diluted somewhat.

Escapism

In lockdown with no football on, I undoubtedly missed the escapism of it all.  I missed the endless transfer speculation in the media that I used to think about nearly every bedtime.  I missed chatting to my fellow United fans after games on social media about how well we had played.  I even missed the footy banter of my Liverpool (arch-rivals to United) supporting best mate Steve.  As ex pro Kevin George has written and I fully concur, ‘football can take you out of your reality.’

When football returned a few weeks ago on TV, I can remember thinking watching United playing behind closed doors was going to be a bit like hard work, i.e. lack of crowd atmosphere.  Nevertheless, ten minutes in and I had forgotten all about the non-crowd.  I was back cheering on my team and life felt good again.  I had so missed this being part of my life.  I had missed the positive mind occupation that supporting a team can bring you.

I never realised just how much I would miss following football.  Lack of identity, lack of comradeship, and a lack of a community feeling, are all what hit me the hardest.  Now it is back on I no longer feel alone. Now it is back on, no longer do I feel on my own in this rather divisive and disconnected world!

Another photo, another opportunity for me to tell the world just how much I love Man United!